Porto's

Time Out says

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5 out of 5 stars

Time Out says

One visit to this Cuban family-owned bakery, which started as a modest cake business in Echo Park in the 1980s, and you'll be making excuses week after week to come back for fresh-out-of-the-oven cheese rolls, decadent fruit tortes and pies, authentic Cuban sandwiches, and flaky chicken empanadas. Other locations include Glendale and Downey, check the website for details.

Their prices are very good which is probably why this place is so popular. Long lines at random times throughout the week. Most of their baked goods are just solid, but not something for which I would wait in line for 20 minutes. However, their Napoleon dulce de leche is delicious and unique. Their cupcakes are also surprisingly good. Good service and family-owned feel despite its size.

The lines at Porto's (multiple locations) are daunting, but they are always long because the food is worth it. It is also a great bargain and the staff is quite efficient and helpful. I knew it as a bakery and expected mostly sweet items. Yes, their flan, guava cheese raft pastries, tres leches cake and fruit tarts are all great sweet treats. But they also have an extensive coffee bar, smoothie menu, savory pastries and snacks as wells as sandwiches and entrees.

On the savory side, everyone loves their potato balls. The Potato Balls are mashed potato balls with beef and vegetables in the center, which are breaded and deep fried. They have now added a Spicy, 4 cheese potato ball which is full of mildly spicy chiles. On the menu I saw a seafood potato ball for Lent, which I practically have calendared for next year. I also tried the Rellenito, the sugar crusted, caramelized plantains stuffed with black beans. The beans are cooked dry and almost powdery so they add a textural contrast with the gooey plantains. The case also has chicken empanadas, chicken or ham croquette, chorizo pie and other types of meat pies and stuff croissants.

In the sandwich department, they really excel. While many go for their Cubanos and Medianoches, I tired their Spicy Chicken Milanesa with breaded and fried chicken pounded super thin, yet remaining juicy and crispy. The sandwich contains jalapeño spread, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and mashed avocado all on a medianoche roll. I also had the Tuna Melt, which was so flavorful with a Cuban seasoning touch. The tuna salad is quite crunchy with bits of celery and what tasted like scallions. It is grilled on sourdough bread with a slice of cheddar cheese. The Tuna Melt is light, not greasy and perfectly crunchy with soft center. It sounds simple, but the simple dishes are really where doing it well matters. Both sandwiches come with a side of Mariquitas, or plantain chips. The chips are house made, lightly salted, thin and super crunchy.

Both halves of the sandwich help up perfectly overnight and heated up in a pan just like new. I am looking forward to enjoying more of their sandwiches.

Everything here is amazing. The sandwiches, the smoothies, the cakes—you really can't go wrong with anything off of the menu. The potato balls are divine. The lines can get pretty rough—especially if you manage to get stuck behind the seemingly ubiquitous post-practice kids sports teams—but the snappy service keeps them moving.